Dolphins getting positive early returns from WR Naanee

A big question mark for the Dolphins is at the quarterback position, and which QB — Matt Moore, David Garrard or Ryan Tannehill — will start Week One. Another concern, though, is the players catching passes for Miami, as the Dolphins’ receiving corps is thin.

Expectations are high for WR Brian Hartline, who is entering a contract year, but he was absent from minicamp while recovering from an appendectomy. That opened the door for players to step up and join Hartline and Davone Bess in the WR corps.

One player who took advantage was Legedu Naanee, who signed with the Dolphins as a free agent after spending the 2011 season with the Panthers. The way we hear it, Naanee surprised observers and impressed his teammates with his abilities in minicamp. The 6-2, 220-pound receiver had his best year in 2011, catching 44 passes for 467 yards and a touchdown. One source pointed out that injuries (Naanee broke his foot in late December) likely left few suitors for Naanee in free agency. When the Dolphins originally signed him, it appeared to simply be a depth signing, but if he continues his elevated play this summer, he could play a bigger role in the new offense.

When asked about Naanee’s production last week, head coach Joe Philbin told reporters, “We like his size and his ability. He’s a good target, whether it be on the outside running some in breaking routes or running slants or cross routes. … He adjusts pretty well to the football, and he has the ability to block in normal down and distance, he has shown an aptitude for that so he has good overall skill.”